The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-06-14

the Boston store; satin pettlcoat,
with drapery OF camel's-hair--imi.
tation, mean. but awful pretty-and
a real splendid basque, satin vest and
gilt buttons; only $50. / tell you,
Aunt Pratt, 1T was swell and no mis-
take; but / couldn't afford soft fan
nels after that"
ais it thick dress?" queried Aunt
Pratt.
"No, not very; not so thick as this
shop dress; but don't mind that. ]
amt coldblooded."
"And your shoes, are they thick?"
ooh. they re just cheap boots; thick
soles do cost 80. My best ones are
French kid with lovely high heels.
They can't have thick soles."
"And have you warm petticoatY'
"Mercy! l don't want to be all
bumped up with things? I've got an
old felt skirt, and striped cambria
for every day, and four white ones,
trimmed with edging."
Aunt Pratt shook her head.
"a hole in the bag! A hole in the
bagl" sho said sadly.
"Why, what upon"-but a fit OF
coughing stopped the words, and left
Lotty's chest SO sore she did not finish
her question.
She was so i'll that night that doc
tor was sent fora young man round
the corner, just beginning practice,
therefore cheaper than man OF ex-
perience. He at once proceeded to
blister his patient and give her anti
mony. Low deirium set in, and tor
six weeks Lofty was unable to leave
her bed, and for q month more she
could not go to work. Bills came in
to twice the amount Of the blue dresss
price, and could not be paid.
"Oh, what hole in the bag" sighed
Aunt Pratt.
When Lofty was little better, her
+ father came in one noon with hand
bill given to him in the street-a fam
ing advertisement OF the Black Crook
performance.
"Say, Lou, don't You want to go to
this tonight? It's n month O. Sun
days since we've had lark; let's 60"
he said, tossing the play bill into his
wife's lap.
"Oh, pa" screamed Idalla, take me.
Oh, dol Now, won't you"
Nine too," squeaked Davy, who
had hoarse cold.
"Oh, shut up!' snapped Potter. III
don't want two babies taggin' at my
heels. Somebody's got to stay with
Lott"
"Why, there's Aunt Pratt" said
Ida.
"Maybe she'd like to go; would you,
aunty?" asked Potter, blandly. He
had mind to keep the right side OF n
woman with means"
"Mel" said the old lady, with a
stern reproof in her voice and face.
"Me 90 to such q placer No indeed!"
"Well, WE'LL everybody to their
mind. like q bit OF FUN first rate,
now and then. We go quite consid-
cradle. first and last; o body must be
amused"
80, fatherl" put in Mrs. Potter,
urged by the whispered teasing and
cross faces OF Ida and Davy; do take
them children alongl Ida hasn't bee n
nowhere since Lott was took sick; and
Davy's only boy. Let him have a
good time while that he can; his
troubles will come fast enough before
long. Now, do let EN- gol'
"Well, / guess they can. Lott won't
want 'em il Aunt Pratt's here"
So at night he came home with four
tickets to the performance, bag OF
peanuts and paper OF candy, and
they set out to enjoy themselves. Tom
had announced at noon that he was
"goin' to take his girl"
Aunt Pratt grQaned in spirit. IAN.
other hole in the bag, and a big oneF"
she said to herself
When would the doctors bill and
debts at the drug store ever be paidY
Aunt Pratt had always lived in the
country and been honest. She had no
experience OF the class who crowd our
theaters, minstrel nails ana circuses,
who buy cheap finery. and expensive,
poor beer and bad butter, but never
pay their rent, or lay up one penny
in all their lives.
As the spring came on Aunt Pratt
noticed one day that Potter looked
disguised with ms dinner, und Lofty
left hers untasted. No won6er Aunt
Pratt could not eat it herself. Thepo
tatoes were poor, and boiled to a wa
terry, insipid mass; the calves liver
tried to a black, leathery substance
the bread old and dry, and the tur
nips rank and unsavory.
II say, pa" exclaimed Tom, "we'r'
all gettin' spring poor. don't care q
hang for my vittles. Let's have doz-
en- OF lager; that'll set ms all up"
So the lager came and WAS used up
! and another dozen ordered, and ther
nnnthor. hnt Tho rnnfitaa did not i'm